Department for Education

Teachers: Pay Settlements

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government what will be thetotal additional cost of the 6.5 per cent pay rise agreed for teachers.

Baroness Barran: The government has accepted the School Teachers’ Review Body’s (STRB) recommendations for the 2023/24 teacher pay award in full. This means that teachers and head teachers in maintained schools in England will receive an award of 6.5%, the highest STRB award in three decades. The 2023/24 pay award completes the delivery of our manifesto commitment to raise starting salaries to £30,000. This will raise the status of the teaching profession and provide a pay offer that helps attract and retain the best teachers in the profession.Back in March, the department set out its calculation that schools, on average, could afford a pay award of 4% from within existing funding. The department decided to fund the 2023 pay award from a lower affordability figure than that calculation: funding the costs of the pay award above 3.5%, on average, rather than above our 4% national affordability calculation. That matches the earlier figure in our written evidence to the STRB, which many schools used in their budget assumptions. Unions have confirmed that this ensures the pay award is properly funded.The department is therefore providing additional funding equivalent to 3% of the pay award, or £525 million in the 2023/24 financial year and £900 million in the 2024/25 financial year. The estimated full cost of the 6.5% award, for all state-funded schools in England, would be £1.14 billion in the 2023/24 and £1.95 billion in 2024/25 financial years respectively.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus and Influenza: Vaccination

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government what support, including financial, Integrated Care Boards have received to enact the Government’s precautionary action to bring forward COVID-19 and flu vaccinations this autumn.

Lord Markham: The acceleration of the COVID-19 and flu programme was laid out in a system letter on 30 August 2023, which has been published on NHS.UK in an online-only format. In addition to the financial arrangements set out in the Autumn 2023 GP and Community Pharmacies enhanced service specifications, and Standard Contract schedules, interim arrangements to support programme acceleration have been put in place to recognise additional administrative, organisation and delivery costs. Commissioned providers are able to claim an additional acceleration payment of £10, in addition to the Item of Service (IoS) fee, for each COVID-19 vaccination administered to care home residents between Monday 11 September and Sunday 22 October 2023 inclusive; and a separate one-off additional payment of £200 for each completed care home by 11.59pm on Sunday 22 October 2023 that is confirmed to the commissioner by the submission of a live time survey no later than 11.59pm on Sunday 29 October 2023. To support the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccinations to other eligible cohorts, an additional £5 acceleration payment, in addition to the IoS fee, is available for each COVID-19 vaccination administered to eligible people between 11 September and 31 October 2023, excluding care home residents, housebound people, and any health and care worker vaccinations commissioned under the NHS Standard Contract.The COVID-19 vaccination primary care service specifications and NHS Standard Contract schedules have been updated to reflect the financial arrangements outlined above in line with usual processes.

Coronavirus: Surveillance

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a community surveillance method,such as the ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey, to monitor the spread of COVID-19 this autumn and during the upcoming winter.

Lord Markham: The approach to COVID-19 surveillance is being actively reviewed by the UK Health Security Agency. Protecting the public from COVID-19 remains one of our top priorities. We continue to monitor the threat posed by COVID-19 through our range of surveillance systems and genomics capabilities, which report on infection rates, hospitalisations and the risks posed by new variants.

Social Services: Digital Technology

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the digitisation of adult social care.

Lord Markham: We are funding a programme of digitisation for adult social care that is delivered through integrated care systems having spent £50 million so far and investing a further £100 million over the next two years.This investment is targeted at driving up adoption of digital social care records and other proven care technologies, while improving the foundations for digital working across the sector, including digital skills, cyber security, and connectivity.We have made good progress so far, increasing adoption of digital social care records by Care Quality Commission-registered providers from 40% in December 2021 to over 55% today; and over 60% of people now have a digital social care record, enabling care teams to have the right information at their fingertips to deliver safe, outstanding care.We are also supporting local systems to identify and invest in care technologies that address local population needs and priorities, while developing a robust evidence base on effective care technologies to inform future investment decisions.

Department for Transport

Hammersmith Bridge: Repairs and Maintenance

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 13 September (HL9790), when they expect the business case development process to report.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department for Transport continues to work constructively with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham – the asset owner and lead for the Hammersmith Bridge project – and with Transport for London to make progress on the Outline Business Case. This is currently undergoing scrutiny through the Department’s governance processes. LBHF is being kept appraised of developments, and a report will be issued once the governance processes have been fulfilled.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Diplomatic Service

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government how many countries have diplomatic representation in the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes details of foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk.This page includes the London Diplomatic List (LDL), which contains details of all embassies and high commissions, as well as the names of heads of mission and other diplomatic agents appointed in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.The LDL lists 171 diplomatic missions with their permanent seat in the UK; and 17 non-resident diplomatic missions.

Diplomatic Service

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government how many countries the UK has diplomatic representation in.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has a diplomatic representation present in 160 countries recognised by the UK Government. This number periodically changes for political and operational reasons. It excludes countries in which we have closed or temporarily suspended a Post in country, which may operate elsewhere. The UK also has representation present in 15 territories, which includes 12 UK Overseas Territories.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) publishes a full list of locations in which the UK has a diplomatic presence on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-foreign-office-posts.This list is regularly updated.

Libya: Floods

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to assist with (1) international aid, and (2) rescue efforts, in Libya following the flooding in that country on 10 September; and what steps they are taking to help to reduce the threat of disease from contaminated water.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is monitoring the  scale of flooding in eastern Libya following Storm Daniel and is committed to working with partners to deliver aid in support of the Libyan people. The UK is providing support in response to both the floods in Libya and the earthquake in Morocco, having allocated a package worth up to £10 million. Flights carrying UK-funded aid to Libya have so far delivered relief items including emergency shelter for up to 14,400 people, and over 800 portable solar lanterns. The UK is also providing water filters and hygiene kits that can reduce the threat of disease from contaminated water for up to 10,500 people. The UK is also supporting the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund and Education Cannot Wait programme, both of which have contributed to emergency responses in Libya.  I spoke with Chairman of Libya's Presidential Council Mohamed al-Mnefi on 13 September to convey his condolences and the UK's commitment to supporting Libya in the aftermath of this tragedy.  I also spoke to UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, to discuss the international response to the crises in Morocco and Libya along with humanitarian coordination.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the government of Ireland regarding the possibility of inter-state proceedings in the EuropeanCourt of Human Rights in response to the enactment of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

Lord Caine: The UK Government discusses a range of issues, including the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act, with the Irish Government on a regular basis. Most recently, engagement took place during the British and Irish Conference (1-3 September) and the Northern Ireland Investment Summit (12-13 September). The Legacy Act provides a framework to deliver effective legacy mechanisms for victims and survivors while complying with our international obligations. The UK Government will do all it can to support the ICRIR, consistent with its operational independence, as it establishes itself and seeks to deliver effectively for victims and survivors. We hope that others, including the Irish Government, will do the same.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Museums and Galleries: Africa

Lord Boateng: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 20 September (HL9874),what plans they have to support the International Training Programme; how many African museum curators have benefited from it in each of the past three years; and from which countries they have come.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Over the past three years, 16 museum curators from across Africa have participated in the British Museum’s International Training Programme; this includes participants from the following countries and institutions: 2023Archeological Enfidha Museum, TunisiaNational Museum, NigeriaUnity Museum, NigeriaNational Museums of Kenya, KenyaImhotep Museum, EgyptAlexandria National Museum, Egypt 2022Luxor Museum, EgyptAkhenaton Museum, EgyptSudan National Museum, SudanUnity Museum, NigeriaThe National Institute of Heritage, Tunisia 2021Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, GhanaEdo Global Art Foundation, NigeriaSudan National Museum, SudanGebal Barkal Museum, Sudan More details on the International Training Programme, including its funders, can be found in the annual reports that the British Museum publishes: https://www.bmitpglobalnetwork.org/publications/annual-reports/.

Charity Commission

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 6 September (HL9930), what powersthey haveto intervene in the work of the Charity Commission where a case is made that it is not acting in the public interest; and if theyhave no such powers, where accountability for the Commission sits.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Charity Commission is an independent registrar and regulator. Section 13(4) of the Charities Act 2011 makes clear that, in the exercise of its functions, the Charity Commission is not subject to the direction or control of any Minister of the Crown or of another government department.The Charity Commission is accountable in several ways. Decisions made by the Charity Commission in exercising its functions are subject to appeal or review either by the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal, or by way of judicial review in the High Court. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Ministers answer for the Charity Commission in Parliament, and the regulator can be called to give evidence to Committees in both Houses of Parliament. The Charity Commission is also required to present its annual report and audited accounts to Parliament, providing key information about its activities and performance.Further details on the Charity Commission’s governance and accountability is available in the Charity Commission Framework Document 2023, published on GOV.UK.

Actors' Benevolent Fund

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written AnswerbyLord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 6 September (HL9929), whether (1) DCMS, or (2) the office of the Attorney General, have received any representations or complaints about the the appointment of trustees to the Actors' Benevolent Fund and the application of section 80 of the Charities Act 2011 by the Charity Commission; and if so, what the result of those representations were.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Attorney General’s Office have received correspondence about the Charity Commission’s engagement with the Actors’ Benevolent Fund. Responses to this correspondence confirmed that the Charity Commission is an independent regulator and that it would be inappropriate for HM Government to intervene in the conduct of an independent regulator in the exercise of its functions.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: VAT

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask His Majesty's Government what was thevalue of VAT relief given under the Listed Places of Worship Scheme in each of the past two financial years.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) was established in 2001 to provide grants towards VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to the nation's listed churches and cathedrals. The scheme, which presently handles around 7000 claims per annum, applies to all faiths and denominations and is delivered UK wide. It is currently funded through a combination of £17 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s core baseline, together with £25 million available from HMT reserves (so a total of up to £42m total each financial year).Historically, the scheme has operated with an underspend each year. However, efforts are underway to reduce underspend, including via a new LPWGS website and comms outreach campaign. Initial data since the launch of the website in July 2023 suggests a gradual increase in uptake and grants being made.The LPWGS website provides details of the annual spend of the scheme, but does not provide details of previous years’ allocations. See here: https://listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/about-us/.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: VAT

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to amendthe present ability to reclaim VAT under the Listed Places of Worship Scheme.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Listed places of worship represent some of the nation's finest heritage, and HM Government recognises the need to preserve and maintain such hallowed buildings. The Listed Place of Worship Grant Scheme aims to mitigate the cost of doing so and to support listed and protected buildings for the benefit of present and future generations.There are presently no plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the scheme, but we keep them under review. We have also been working to ensure that the accessibility and uptake of the scheme is improved, particularly through the development of a new website and application process. Officials maintain regular contact with key people and organisations representing listed places of worship, and continue to welcome feedback on the operation and effectiveness of the scheme. I was pleased to visit St Peter and St Paul's church in Albury, Surrey, earlier this year to hear how the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme helped them to carry out repairs to the church roof.